"He..he... he touched me a lot.
I..I.. narrowly escaped that day".
Ann felt nervous.
" I know I know Ann, Don't worry. I will also be there.
Today's meeting is very important. That's why I asked you to join us.
Besides, you cannot avoid these situations in the future. You have to face it. Try to take this as a challenge, ok? Be ready at 7.".
"But sir..".
Mr.Flynn turned and left without hearing anymore excuses.
She felt nervous, increasingly lacking in confidence about tonight.
"Don't worry Ann, Nothing will happen". She cheered herself up and hoped for the best. She continued with her remaining work.
"Come darling, we will go have lunch. I want to try that newly-opened Chinese restaurant. I am craving for some dragon chicken. Yum!", Linda licked her lip thinking of the chicken."
Let's go. Hurry up!" Linda excitedly said.
Ann also want to take her mind off things. So she happily agreed..
The new restaurant was crowded but luckily they got a table without waiting.
" One Fried rice and a Dragon chicken please. And two ice-lemonades as well. Thankyou", Linda told the waiter.
This is their usual order at all Chinese restaurants.
" I unfortunately have a meeting today with Mr.Oswald.", Ann stated looking blankly at Linda.
"What!!!" Linda shouted". You have a meeting with that sicko? Don't you remember the first encounter? You can't go today Ann. Tell Mr.Flynn to send someone else." Linda was really worried for Ann.
"No Linda. Actually Mr.Flynn personally came and asked me to join him for this meeting today. I tried to convince him but he was not listening. Moreover our new Chairman will also be there. I don't want to make a bad impression right away. Anyway, these meetings are part of the expectations from my role. I cannot avoid them".
Linda was not convinced at all.
She started to bad mouth Mr.Oswald and Mr.Flynn.
"That womanizer!! If he dares to touch you again, l'm going to kill him. And that Flynn! He is such a selfish brat. He knows what happened last time, and yet he insists you to go today. He only cares about his job".
Linda was like a sister, friend, mother, colleague - all wrapped into one. She filled every hole in Ann's life. She felt indebted to Linda. A tear formed on her eyes. And now she didn't feel like she was an orphan.
Or was she?
Her thoughts drifted away to the incident that happened 4 years back. She was saved by Linda and her family. But after that incident she has suffered from memory loss.
Thinking about her past brought a strong headache. She groaned touching her head.
"Are you ok Ann?", Linda asked concerningly. "Are you having a headache? Here, drink some water"
Ann drank some water and felt a bit relieved.
"We can go back if you want. What happened suddenly Ann?. You were not having headaches for so long now." Linda looked worried.
"Did you .. Did you think about your PAST?"